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'A difference of philosophy' USGA 'respectfully disagrees' with R&A's decision
FAR HILLS, N.J. (CNNSI.com) -- The following is the USGA's official response to the announcement Friday that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club would not test for "spring-like effect" in golf clubs: The United States Golf Association (USGA) will maintain its test for spring-like effect in driving clubs despite the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) decision not to adopt a similar test at this time. Since implementation of the test in November of 1998, more than 900 driving clubs have been tested with only 21 specific models, about 2%, deemed non- conforming. While the R&A and the USGA work together as closely as possible to create worldwide conformity with respect to the Rules of Golf, legal considerations require that each organization act independently in making its decisions regarding equipment matters. The USGA notes that the R&A has acknowledged that the latest generation of driving clubs provide greater clubhead flexibility and increased spring-like effect or Coefficient of Restitution (COR) values. While the USGA recognizes the R&A's conclusion that these factors have not added enough distance to be detrimental, the USGA respectfully disagrees with these conclusions. "We have a difference of philosophy, not science," USGA Senior Technical Director Dick Rugge said. "The R&A thinks the increased distance is less significant than the USGA does. "Up until the last few years, metal woods did not add appreciable distance to a well-struck drive when compared to a wooden driver," Rugge continued. "They did more consistency and made the less-than-perfect shot a little better. In this way, they helped the less-skilled player more than they helped the highly skilled player. "More recently, however, the USGA has determined that some thin-faced titanium drivers are capable of producing significant additional distance through spring-like effect in a manner that is contrary to existing Rules. We've also found that spring-like effect generally helps those with the most skill who need the least assistance." Since the introduction of titanium drivers and the spring-like effect these clubs impart, distance increases have shown their most significant rise. Driving distance on the PGA Tour increased at a rate of about one foot per year for 25 years from 1968 to 1994. However, from 1994 to 1999, driving distances jumped by two yards per year, or a six-fold increase. Identical gains have shown up on both the Senior and LPGA Tours over the same timeframe. "Scientific investigation leads to one definite conclusion: more spring-like effect leads to more distance," Rugge added. "The USGA's spring-like effect test represents a balanced approach that maintains the benefit of modern technology while allowing the USGA to protect the game by enforcing a Rule that has been in effect since 1984. "The USGA has acted deliberately, cautiously, and carefully on this matter. We've consulted with the best scientific minds available at leading universities and equipment manufacturers as well as our own Research & Test Center in studying this issue and arriving at our conclusions and test methodology." The USGA wishes to stress that it will continue to work as closely as possible with the R&A regarding all pertinent issues, including this one.
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